Scientists examined the role of Th1-polarizing factors in the generation of protective and non-protective subsets of Mtb-specific Th1 cells. They found that IL-12/23p40 promotes Th1 cell expansion and maturation beyond the CD73+CXCR3+T-betdim stage, and T-bet prevents deviation of Th1 cells into Th17 cells. [Cell Rep]
Full Article | Graphical Abstract

Application of most interferon alpha (IFNα) subtype proteins inhibited HBV replication in vivo, with IFNα4 and IFNα5 being the most effective subtypes. Decreased viral loads after therapeutic application of IFNα4 and IFNα5 correlated with expanded effector cell populations of NK cells and T cells in both liver and spleen. [Sci Rep]
Full Article

Appreciating the potential of host-directed therapies designed to control autophagy during mycobacterial infection, the authors focused on the influence of microRNA (miR)-23a-5p on the activation of macrophage autophagy during M. tuberculosis infection in bone marrow-derived macrophages and murine RAW264.7 cells. [Exp Cell Res]
Abstract

HIV

Scientists determined the relationship between CCR5 promoter polymorphisms and CD4 decline and other immunopathological features like immune activation and CD4+ T cell apoptosis in HIV patients. [Sci Rep]
Full Article

Researchers showed that BST-2 upregulation by IFN-β and IL-27 also increases the surface expression of Env and thus boosts the ability of CD4mc to sensitize HIV-1-infected cells to antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) by sera from HIV-1-infected individuals. [J Virol]
Abstract

Characterization of the functional capabilities of monoclonal antibodies isolated from a HIV-1 vaccine trial with modest efficacy has revealed mechanisms by which non-neutralizing antibodies are presumed to have mediated protection. [Curr Opin HIV AIDS]
Abstract

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TB Alliance and the Medicines Patent Pool (MPP) announced a licensing agreement for the clinical development of sutezolid, an antibiotic drug candidate which demonstrated encouraging results in early studies. The sublicense pertains to the development of sutezolid in combination with other TB drugs and follows the MPP’s license for the treatment signed with patent holder The Johns Hopkins University in January. [TB Alliance and the Medicines Patent Pool]
Press Release

The Clinical Data Interchange Standards Consortium (CDISC) and the Infectious Diseases Data Observatory announced the availability of a new standard to assist in the collection, aggregation and analysis of Ebola virus disease (EVD) research data. This standard is for use in EVD trials, leading to potential treatments and public health surveillance for this disease. [The Clinical Data Interchange Standards Consortium]
Press Release

One of Europe’s biggest science spenders could soon branch out into publishing. The European Commission, which spends more than €10 billion annually on research, may follow two other big league funders, the Wellcome Trust and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and set up a “publishing platform” for the scientists it funds, in an attempt to accelerate the transition to open-access publishing in Europe. [ScienceInsider]
Editorial

The European Patent Office announced its “intention to grant a patent” to the University of California (UC) for its broad-based claims about the genome-editing tool popularly known as CRISPR. UC, on behalf of several parties, has been in a pitched battle with the Broad Institute of Cambridge, Massachusetts, over CRISPR patents, and the new decision marks a sharp departure from the position of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. [ScienceInsider]
Editorial

The relationship between U.S. scientists and the Trump administration hit a new low after organizers of a major annual science policy conference were unable to find anyone willing to discuss the president’s priorities. [ScienceInsider]
Editorial